Hughson councilmembers should avoid costs of recall and resign now

POSTEDApril 6, 2010 9:18 p.m.

The story “Hughson city employees cry ‘hostile work environment,’” which ran in the April 3 issue of the Journal, articulates well the employees’ complaints which were investigated and found to be without merit and unfounded. The rest of the article voiced Hughson City Council members Thom Crowder and Ben Manley's views, which is fine if you like to hear half a story. The citizens of Hughson want any employee, manager or council member removed if they violate the law.The Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury conducted an investigation clearing the employees’ accusations, but in conducting the interviews, investigators found written documents such as e-mails in which Councilmen Crowder offered political favors and other documents which found Councilmen Humphreys and Manley in violation of the Brown Act.Since the Grand Jury Report, Public Record of Hughson City Council transcripts show Crowder and Humphreys discussing getting rid of employees, targeting employees and bad mouthing the sheriff's department contracted to police services in Hughson. Humphreys later in a open council meeting admitted to being police-escorted out of a Hughson High football game by a sheriff’s deputy at the high school staff's request after being removed from the chain crew of the sophomore game. Besides unprofessional behavior in violation of their oaths of office, it further violates the oath of behavior taken by Humphreys, a fireman, and Crowder, a paramedic.Once confronted for their own founded violations, Crowder, Humphreys and Manley hid behind violating the law due to others possibly breaking the law. We teach our kids two wrongs don't make a right! Crowder shows his ethics by bad mouthing anyone questioning him as a city leader. So, the citizens had no other recourse but to seek a recall election.Council supporters tried to follow Hughson citizens walking over two and a half days to obtain Hughson registered voters’ signatures. They were trying to get voters’ signatures to avoid a recall election. They failed. What are our elected officials afraid of?Now it's in Crowder’s, Humphreys’ and Manley's control to avoid the costs of a special election to the citizens of Hughson by following the Civil Grand Jury's findings and recommendations: Resign immediately!